Wondering if anyone has any insight to this- In meditation I have problems taking deep breaths unless I slouch a little. It feels as though my diaphram just won't do the work. It might be some kind of stress or it could be a problem of incorrect posture. Maybe my diaphram is not flexible enough. Any ideas? [IMG]http://bbs.fightingarts.com/ubb/confused.gif[/IMG]

This not to say that slouching is the correct posture...but it does mean that when meditating you don't have to keep your arms stiff to your sides. You can keep your back straight...simply hold your hands out palm up while bending your elbows and you'll notice a difference in the depth of your breath. Find what's comfortable for you.

I know what you mean about not feeling that you are breathing deeply enough. Something I have learned in the last 10 years of studying meditation is to relax your levator-ani(Sp?)(anal-sphincter) muscle when you inhale, and constrict the muscle on exhalation, and this will give the sensation of breathing all the way down into the abdomen. Of course this also plays a part in martial application and body-tightening isometric-exercises such as Sanchin-kata.

I would agree w/Judderman there many postures you can use in meditation many of them you can breathe easy in and in my eyes the breath is probaly the top two of thins you should concentrate on while meditating.

Like for instants (I resently broke my right arm good thing I am both handed lol) but I can't do some of the positions that I could normaly do before so I have modified them myself getting much the same effect.Oh well hope that helped.